President Obama's signing of a bill to expand health insurance for low-income children recently has caused a surge of customers to file into The Corona Smoke Shop and leave with several pounds of tobacco.

"Everything I get in, I sell," said store manager Jane Breton. "It's unreal."

"People are kind of panicked," Breton said. "I've seen people buy as many as 12 pounds."

Gov. Jennifer Granholm is attempting to piggy back on the federal increase with a proposal to double the state tax on the 1-pound bags, making a $20 bag now cost $60 to $70. It is believed Senate Republicans will block Granholm's attempt to pass the state increase.

"It's just been extremely unfair," Breton said. "Everyone knows it's not good for you, but it's an adult decision."

Jim Purdy of Jackson has been rolling his own cigarettes for three years because it is much cheaper than buying a carton of cigarettes.

"I don't like it at all," he said of the tax hike.

Purdy said even with the tax increase it will still be cheaper than buying a carton of cigarettes.

He said he thinks the tax increase will cause him to cut down on smoking quite a bit.

Mary Ball, community representative for the American Cancer Society in Jackson, said tax increases on tobacco products are good.

She said if fewer people smoke, fewer people will be subjected to secondhand smoke.

Cheyenne Parker of Jackson, who has been rolling her own cigarettes for two months, said she wishes the government would find a different group of people to target.

"Tobacco's an evil genie that the federal government cannot put back in the bottle," Parker said.

Parker believes it will create a bigger black market for poor people who won't be able to afford to smoke.

U.S. Rep Mark Schauer, D-Battle Creek, voted in favor of the tax increase, saying ensuring health insurance coverage for children is an important goal.

Schauer said he understands the concerns, but believes there is a social benefit in reducing the number of smokers.

"That's an issue those people will have to wrestle with," he said. "One of the options is to quit smoking."

Parker said some of her friends are considering doing just that, which makes her happy. Not because they will be healthier, but because it would be a great revenge on lawmakers, who will lose out on the tax revenue.

Breton said because of the recession, more people had started buying loose tobacco and thinks the tax increase will hurt the business.